Plumbing!

[Palustris]

I am fed up to the back teeth. I have spent the last 2 days solid trying to plumb in a new sink. Discovered after I had fastened it all up, late last night, that one of the components was split, so water went everywhere. It meant we had to manage without water till this mornig. Went into town and bought a new piece, emptied the water system, removed the sink and replaced the faulty part. Not my fitting at fault, the thing had a hole in it, badly made. Tightened everything up and replaced the sink and turned on the water and the system leaked. Did it all again and the system leaked. Did it all again and and and and....................... Never have I had so much trouble getting plumbing water tight in my life. (Yes I have done a fair bit of plumbing before, 3 houses worth at least). So now we have the water back on, but there is still a tiny tiny drip which I am desperately hoping the lime scale will block up eventually, otherwise I will have to drain the system etc etc. Fed up is the politest way of putting it at present.

[Palustris]

[Jesse]

Palustris I'll ask OH if he has any tips, he's a plumber by trade. I know he was complaining about a radiator the other day, just wouldn't get watertight, he used something to seal it but not sure what, as your leak is in the drinking water supply you may not be able to use his remedy though.

[Jesse]

Palustris, assuming you are using brass fittings have you tried wrapping PTFE tape on the olives (the things that look like a ring)?

[Palustris]

Always do!

[Jesse]

OH says perhaps your fittings are poor quality, did you buy from a plumbing merchant rather than a diy shop. Otherwise try using LS-X (a bit like silicone) on the olives rather than PTFE tape.

[Palustris]

Bought the first lot from a plumbing supplier (the one with a split in came from them) the second ones came from a DIY store and looked a lot better too. I have used silicone type sealant now and the leak seems to have stopped.  It is very odd, I have used these compression style fittngs for a long time with no trouble at all before.  Thanks anyway. By the way the work tops are now cut and ready for fixing and the electrics are sorted and tested and working fine.

[Wicker]

All that handiwork on top of that magnificent garden, Eric, you are to be congratulated - glad your perseverance paid off

[Merry Tiller]

The new high pressure plastic fittings are superb though I always feel safer with soldered joints, only use compression in an emergency